In Defense of the NPC - A Response to Marc Lobliner

Details: Written by Christian Duque

We all love the internet. It's a great technology that gives everyone a voice. News, contest coverage, and lively message boards are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg; however, the internet also gives shelter to people looking to defame and malign others. If a writer penned a slanderous article for a newspaper or a libelous video was broadcast on a television station, you could rest assured that the wronged party would have his/her day in court. He/she would collect damages, and in some cases the court would also provide equitable relief (e.g., a T.R.O. or permanent injunction) to prevent future incidents of wrongdoing). None of that seems to happen for the victims online defamation, whether it deals with individuals or organizations. Nonetheless, it doesn't make this type of defamatory speech any less harmful or morally bankrupt. To intentionally mislead the public and to present falsehoods as truths, is especially egregious.

"As a person, I think Marc is very entertaining little guy, but I simply couldn't stay silent when he attacked the NPC." - Christian Duque

And so, I'd like to discuss Marc Lobliner's recent video, titled "The Dirty Political Reality of the NPC," a video he released on his Tiger Fitness youtube page. In the video, Lobliner urged natural bodybuilders to leave the NPC for the OCB & the "ANBF," he also implored mainstream athletes to jump ship and compete in NABBA. He hurled a series of accusations, which I'll discuss later in this article, but before doing so, we need to get an idea just how influential Mr. Lobliner really is. Just for the record, his official youtube channel has nearly 250,000 subscribers and his channel has over fifty million views. In addition to his own youtube stats, Lobliner has collaborated with the biggest names on the youtube circuit, including the The Hodge Twins & has made videos with all the top bodybuilders, including Mr. Olympia, Phil Heath. Yet... he's openly calling for athletes to leave the NPC. He's also potentially threatening a boycott, and no one thinks that's going to negatively affect the NPC? Give me a break!! Of course it's going to hurt the NPC & IFBB. Anyone who has a quarter of a million subscribers is going to make waves!! And few, if any, of those people will ever hear the NPC's rebuttal.

Before breaking Marc's video down, let me stress this to natural bodybuilders in the NPC - YOU HAVE A GREAT MANY - AWESOME - CONTESTS to compete in right where you are. In fact, this October you can compete in an open show (any person with an NPC card from any state can sign up) in Dave Liberman's 2015 NPC Natural Northern USA held in Cleveland, OH. Both of Dave's shows have 300-400 competitors, a full expo, and a huge press presence. Winners of these shows have gone on to earn IFBB Pro cards, like R.D. Caldwell Jr., who won his class & the overall at the 2014 NPC Team Universe. In the long run, R.D. is going to accomplish so much more as an IFBB Pro than he ever could as a "natural pro" with some of these rinky dink smaller federations. That's not just my opinion - it's fact. Being an IFBB Pro means you are part of elite few athletes in the world. It opens doors and it translates to automatic credibility.

Marc hob knobs with Mr. Olympias, yet calls the NPC a joke, and urges its athletes to jump ship to rival federations?

Also, I find it a little odd that Marc is urging NPC competitors to jump ship for the "ANBF." I've never heard of that organization and upon logging onto their website "anbfnatural.com," I see a banner for TigerFitness at the top (above even the ANBF's own logo). That right there is WEAK. A supplement retailer associated with Mr. Lobliner is the first thing you see when you log on? But the laughs don't end there. Marc is actually the VICE PRESIDENT of this organization. He has also left the question of his personal anabolic steroid use unanswered - he may or may not use them.

Let me ask you natties a question -- why in the hell would you leave a great organization like the NPC to join a federation that no one's ever heard of, whose logo sits under Lobliner's store banner, where Marc is a VP, and where Marc surely has clients competing??? Is this really the impartial, fair playing field you're being sold - where a competitor could be prepped by the chief sponsor, Vice President, and main social media personality of the federation you're competing in? I don't know about you, but THAT type of situation would make me want to jump ship - not anything I'd ever experience in the NPC.

But let's move on... let's talk about what Mr. Lobliner stated on his little video. Almost immediately, he tried (unsuccessfully) to cover his ass; at 0:51, he puts out a weak disclaimer that he's not directing his anger at NPC President, Mr. Jim Manion. He states Mr. Manion "can't control all his promoters", and as the video goes on he begins to paint the president as negligent and otherwise inept. At 1:08 he calls out some unnamed NPC promoters, calling them "motherfucking pieces of shit," then personally attacking John Lindsay, stating he'll accept a phone call if the promoter basically calls him to reassure him that everything is above board with his events. WHO THE HELL does Marc Lobliner think he is to essentially shake down a promoter that does so much for the fitness industry as JOHN LINDSAY?! I'll tell you who he thinks he is - he knows he's a guy with 250,000 subscribers and 50 million views. His stats are his sword, and few will stand up to him. Few people have the courage to speak their minds in general, much less stand up to a major figure in social media.

At 1:23, Lobliner urges competitors to jump ship from the NPC and go to the OCB, "ANBF," and NABBA. Don't even get me started on that last one. They might be huge worldwide, but in the USA, I can't tell you the last time I saw a flyer of theirs, much less heard of someone competing at one of their shows. And that's kind of WHAT I DO, I talk to athletes that compete in the fitness industry. In 8yrs, I don't think I've ever interviewed a NABBA competitor in the United States. It's no wonder Marc has a pro card from them. I doubt Marc could even win a level 5 NPC show, but yeah... he's a "NABBA Pro Bodybuilder," give me a break will ya?!?! (Lol).

Some speculate that Marc uses anabolic steroids - nothing wrong with that, though I must say, it's a little unusual for the vice president of a natural federation.

At 2:41 the real fun starts. Marc reads a letter from an unnamed client that praises his coaching abilities and all but reads like a fan letter. Did someone actually write you that letter Marc? C'mon, be honest. It's like the single girl that sends herself flowers on Valentine's Day. Nonetheless, Marc's demeanor turns from angry to livid when the client states he can't work with him anymore, b/c the alleged athlete THINKS it would be better to work with a more connected person.

At 3:50 Marc states that bodybuilding should be an objective sport. What an ass-backward statement!! Bodybuilding is a SUBJECTIVE SPORT. Objective sports involve situations that reasonable people could all agree on (e.g., touchdowns in football, goals in soccer, or knockouts in boxing). In bodybuilding, I could pick a winner who's a perfect mass monster and you could pick a winner who's a perfect aesthetic freak - both guys are winners, but it's decided by how many judges prefer Look A to Look B. That's where the SUBJECTIVE, AD-HOC decision-making comes in. You're an idiot if you think bodybuilding should be judged objectively. Yes Marc, you're rich, successful, and popular, but if I give you a nickle for your thoughts, I'd get change.

At 3:50 & 5:40, Mr. Lobliner states "the NPC is a fucking joke," and until promoters he dislikes are removed, he states "bodybuilding will continue to be a joke, as long as the NPC is on top." At 4:18, he accuses contest promoters he's discussed as being "show riggers," at 4:42 he discusses alleged deals between promoters & coaches, and at 5:00 he talks about back room deals and jokingly mentions potential sexual favors. All I have to say is this MARC, WHERE IS YOUR PROOF? DO YOU HAVE AFFIDAVITS? RECORDINGS? DOCUMENTS? VIDEOS? WHERE IS YOUR PROOF? PUT UP OR SHUT UP!